Spare Car Parts You Should Always Keep at Hand for Emergencies

- There are some “wear and tear” parts that you should always have at hand for your vehicle, such as bulbs, filters, and fuses.
- Emergencies can often be avoided on basic replacements by keeping a kit of common parts in your car.
- Save hundreds of dollars on emergency calls and towing by being prepared with a robust emergency kit.
- Spare Tire: Your vehicle should at least have a small spare that will suffice until you can get the original tire fixed. Make sure that you have one, and that it is inflated and ready to go at all times. If you want, you can upgrade by purchasing an extra full-size tire instead. Just make sure that you have somewhere to store it, as it may not fit in the space allocated for the spare.
- Spare Fuses: A single bad fuse can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s electrical system. One fuse might only control a single feature, or it could be responsible for all of the lights in the car. It’s best to stockpile all the most common fuses so that you have them available when needed. They're cheap and small, so they are easy to stock up on.
- Spare Bulbs: Imagine being somewhere in the dark of night, and your headlights both go out at the same time. If it’s not a fuse problem, you’re going to hope that you have bulbs on hand to make the replacement and see to finish driving to your destination. Figure out what bulbs you need for headlights, taillights, turn signals and keep a spare set of each on hand.
- Replacement Fluids: Any emergency kit should include extra fluids, including oil, antifreeze, washer fluid, and brake fluid. Low fluids may not create an emergency situation, but they can. If nothing else, running your car with low fluids can be bad for the engine.
- Oil and Air Filters: Again, these items are cheap and don’t take up a lot of space. Although you can generally pick them up as needed at auto parts stores, having them on hand can save you a trip. If you are planning a trip on a holiday when stores aren’t open and you require a new air filter, having one available will give you peace of mind on your travels.
- Jumper cables
- First-aid kit
- Small tool kit with screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, and other basic tools
- Blankets and warm clothing for colder weather emergencies
- Car fire extinguisher
- Multi-tool (Swiss Army knife or another type of multipurpose tool)
- Rain gear and snow gear, as applicable
- Flashlight with spare batteries
- Bungee cords, straps, and/or chains
- Mobile phone charger and/or portable battery pack
- Emergency car battery charger
- Gas can
- Paper towels or shop rags
- Roadside flares
- Flat tire repair aids (plug kits or inflation cans, or both)